E. Coli's Economic Impact on Europe, by the Numbers

E. Coli's Economic Impact on Europe, by the Numbers

Article excerpt

The European Union is planning to offer EUR 150 million ($220
million) in aid to European farmers who have suffered huge financial
losses since the outbreak in early May of E. coli in northern
Germany. The agricultural industry across Europe took a hit when
inability to determine the source of the outbreak caused fear of
consuming fresh produce. The question now: Is EUR 150 million enough
to make up for their losses? Here are the five countries most
severely affected by the crisis.

The European Union is planning to offer EUR 150 million ($220
million) in aid to European farmers who have suffered huge financial
losses since the outbreak in early May of E. coli in northern
Germany. The agricultural industry across Europe took a hit when
inability to determine the source of the outbreak caused fear of
consuming fresh produce. The question now: Is EUR 150 million enough
to make up for their losses? Here are the five countries most
severely affected by the crisis.

#5 Spain

Spain's farmers were the first to take a hit because Germany
initially blamed the outbreak on Spanish cucumbers. Scientists
weren't able to trace the bacteria to Spain, but the damage was
already done - the Spanish government estimates that farmers have
lost EUR 200 million ($293 million) since Germany's announcement.
Agriculture makes up roughly 3 percent of the country's gross
domestic product (GDP). Because scientists haven't been able to
identify the source of the outbreak, fears about consuming fresh
produce have spread to other European countries, taking a toll on
their agricultural sectors as well.

Spain is furious with Germany for placing the blame on Spanish
produce before it had proof. "What we want from the Germans is for
them to admit and correct their mistake, because we are now paying
for something that is simply not our fault," said Anthony Moreno, a
spokesman for Spanish farming organization Coag, according to the
Guardian. "We want the damages to our companies and our farms to be
compensated. We don't care where the money comes from. Obviously the
Germans are to blame, but we are inside the European Union and that
is where it may have to be dealt with."

#4 The Netherlands

Dutch News reports that The Netherlands has lost EUR 50 million
($73 million) so far. …